A 26-year-old Douglas man who was arrested earlier this month on illegal drug charges and released on a $5,500 property bond was arrested again this week in connection with an armed robbery that took place in Blackshear on July 22, 2026.
According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, the CCSO officers assisted the Blackshear Police Department in the successful apprehension of two suspects wanted in for allegedly committing an armed robbery.
On July 22, 2026, officers with the Blackshear Police Department responded to an armed robbery in the 500 block of McDuffie Street. During the investigation, detectives identified the suspect vehicle and determined the individuals responsible had traveled from Douglas to Blackshear before committing the crime.
Investigators identified the suspects as 26-year-old Tony Hatch Harper of Douglas and a 13-year-old juvenile from Douglas. The Blackshear Police Department requested assistance from agents with the Douglas Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) and the D.I.C.E. Unit in locating the suspects.
On July 23, 2026, local agents worked alongside investigators from the Blackshear Police Department to locate both suspects in Coffee County.
Through the coordinated efforts of both agencies, Hatch and his accomplice were safely taken into custody without incident and turned over to the Blackshear Police Department to face charges related to the armed robbery.
Sheriff Fred Cole praised the partnership between the two agencies and reaffirmed his commitment to assisting law enforcement partners throughout the region. “If you commit a crime in another community and think you can hide in Coffee County, think again. We will work alongside any law enforcement agency necessary to find you, arrest you, and make sure you answer for your actions. There is no safe haven for criminals in Coffee County,” said Sheriff Cole.
A Douglas police officer had arrested Hatch on July 7 for a suspected window tint violation. During the stop, the officer found suspected marijuana and methamphetamine inside the car. Harper was arrested and booked into the Coffee County Jail. He was released on a $5,500 property bond.
Now he’s back behind bars, this time on far more serious charges.
